How To Grow Weed That Smells Strong And Tastes Superb

Every strain has a unique smell and taste, whether skunky, fruity or anywhere in between. Every grower values huge yields and strong flowers, but nothing quite beats bud, that also smells tempting and tastes delicious.

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28 Feb 2017

When growing cannabis, some of the key factors cultivators strive towards are massive harvests, that produce buds of high quality. Cannabis consumers also have the potency of buds high up on their priority list, ensuring, that they get the desired cannabinoid quantity and ratio in return for their money. Another large factor that adds character and value to a marijuana harvest is the smell and taste of the product. Many strains have familiar and nostalgic scents and flavors to them, so much so, that the strain is literally named after either the dank smells of cheese, diesel and skunk, or more fruit and vibrant aromas, such as pineapple, blueberry and apple.

One of the first actions somebody commits when they are looking to purchase marijuana, is to shove their nose into the storage bag or jar and take a big lungful of aromatic goodness. Smell and taste are definitely important when it comes to smoking preferences. However, there is so much information out there regarding how to produce colossal harvests and how to ensure your buds are fully frosted with mammoth amounts of cannabinoids. There is no denying the importance of these factors when growing, but taking measures to ensure the optimum outcome in terms of smell and taste for your crop will only add to the overall quality of your harvest.

TERPENES AND TERPENOIDS

The key players in improving the taste and smell of your cannabis are, without a doubt, terpenes and terpenoids. These compounds are formed alongside cannabinoids on small glands of cannabis flowers known as trichomes. Taking direct measures to influence increased production of terpenes and terpenoids will enable you to maximise the scent and taste, that the specific strain you are growing is capable of producing. Each strain will have its own unique smell and taste due to genetic factors. This can be boosted using growing techniques, however it is important to roughly know what smell and taste you are looking to achieve, and then selecting the correct strain in order to attain the desired outcome.

Terpenes and terpenoids are the molecules responsible for the diverse array of scents and flavors spread across many different cannabis strains. They are also found elsewhere in the plant kingdom and are responsible for the familiar smells of lavender, pine, citrus, basil and more. Although they are absolutely key in the domains of scent and taste, it has been found, that they can also influence the type of high a cannabis plant will produce. They have also been found to have vast potential in the field of medicinal cannabis.

In order to increase the amount of terpenes and terpenoid production in cannabis plants, they need to receive precise amounts of external stress. If you have experience growing and can achieve a good, healthy crop free of deficiencies, mould and pest infestation, then attempting stressing methods is definitely something you may want to try. The process is somewhat delicate, with the correct amount of stress needing to be applied over a long period of time, instead of overwhelming the plants and risking fatalities. The best time to start applying these methods are during the middle or end stages of a plant's flowering stage.

Low stress training, or LST, is a way of exposing your plant to levels of stress that aren’t quite as extreme as pruning or topping. Low stress training involves manipulating a plant to grow more sideways, therefore exposing far more of the plant to the light source, instead of primarily the top section.

NUTRIENTS

The amount of nutrients provided to your plant can alter the outcome of how strong it will smell and how pleasant its taste will be. When looking to enhance the amount of nutrients a plant has access to, it is possible for growers to use supplements. However, cheaper and more natural products can be used to achieve the same goals. Blackstrap molasses is a popular and effective option, primarily used during the last few weeks of the flowering stage before harvest time arrives. Blackstrap molasses works to provide cannabis plants with valuable carbohydrates, amino acids and minerals, that are key in allowing plants to develop maximum taste and smell.

Other nutritional supplements are available, that assist the blooming process by acting as a source of vitamins, amino acids and other vital nutrients, that are needed to strive for optimal aroma and taste of your crop.

Another supplement category exists, that some growers frown upon, especially if they value completely natural growing methods. However, they may be useful for those struggling to achieve the results they are after. This group of supplements actually add smell to your buds, from grapes to citrus and berry. Once the smells are present in the buds, growers will have to flush their plants around three weeks before harvest to expel excess magnesium.

It has been reported, that natural nutrients contribute more effectively to smell than chemical options. These nutrients break down in the soil over time, and include sources such as kelp, bone meal and worm castings.

As well as providing optimal amounts of nutrients to your plants to increase results, methods also exist, that take us back to the subject of stress, by decreasing the amount. Plants will consume large amounts of nutrients during the vegetative phase when lots of energy is being invested in the development of stems and leaves. Plants also require a large amount of nutrients during the early stages of flowering when buds are being established. However, about 6 weeks into flowering a plant's demands for such large amounts of nutrients decreases as growth begins to slow down. This will give the grower the opportunity to start to restrict nutrients, but also ensure their plant still has enough to produce optimal yields. Doing this will limit the amount of nitrogen, that will deposit in flowers, which may cause them to develop a harsh smell and taste.

LIGHT SELECTION

Being mindful of the type of light, that you provide to your cannabis plants can also alter the outcome of your crop in terms of how nicely it will smell and how soothing or striking it will be on the taste buds. UV lights are believed to possibly enhance trichome production, and because terpenes are made in these small glands, they will likely contribute to the overall smell and taste of the harvest. Specifically, it is UV-B light, that causes this production, possibly because the plant produces excess trichomes in order to shield itself from the rays. Be sure to take safety measures when working with this light source, especially protective lenses.

DRYING AND CURING

Drying and curing correctly will help to maintain the integrity of your buds and contribute to the overall taste and smell. Drying buds at a nice slow pace will allow them to maintain a nice smell, and maintaining medium humidity prevents mould and protects trichomes from damage.

Curing your bud correctly will ensure the best smell and taste possible. Place your correctly dried buds into jars or storage bags. Begin to open the container of choice each day to let a fresh supply of air inside. After a couple of weeks you can check less regularly, repeating the shame procedure. This process should be completed after about 1 month.